The Power of Prayer

And Yitzchak pleaded with G-d on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and G-d answered his plea, and Rivka his wife became pregnant.
Some say that Yitzchak was barren too, and that the prayer "worked" for both of them. Others say that he definitely was not barren - only Rivka was. One way or the other, I bring it up to demonstrate the power of prayer. And the Torah, I believe, is emphasizing the message about prayer by putting the account of the davening and the answer in a single pasuk. (Of course, they probably had been praying for children for many years, but the wording in the pasuk makes a point for us.

The real reason I mention this pasuk about the power of prayer is to make some connection to the sedra, although the topic of this lead tidbit has little to do with Parshat HaShavua (well, there will be another connection soon), and mostly to do about the power of prayer. Last week's lead tidbit didn't focus on Chayei Sara, at least this week's mentions To'l'dot.

In the case of Yitzchak and Rivka, there was no question as to what they were davening for. (Even though Rivka questioned the soundness of being pregnant because of the unrest and conflict she felt inside.) What happens, however, when one is not sure what to daven for?

Let's take another look at our petition for rain. We ask, V'TEIN TAL U'MATAR LIVRACHA. Pretty straightforward. In fact, if you don't ask specifically this way, but "just" ask G-d for a blessing, V'TEIN BRACHA, the Amida is invalid, 19 brachot are voided, and one repeats the ENTIRE Amida. What did you ask for? A blessing. What's so wrong with that? The answer seems to be that it just isn't enough. It isn't specific enough. It isn't what our Sages required us to do.

But what about the Jewish community somewhere in the southern hemisphere, where rain at this time of the year would be harmful to them? If during there summer and dry season, rainfall would damage crops or allow mosquitoes to breed and possibly spread disease?

Halacha recognizes the uncertainty of the davener from such a community. Is he praying for his community or for the Jews of Eretz Yisrael? In such a case, one p'sak allows the davener in question to say V'TEIN BRACHA, the more generic request, and let G-d do what is best in each situation. (My way of understanding this halachic issue.)

Now let's put things into a very NOW context. Do I pray to G-d that the Barak gov't should fall, or can that somehow make matters worse? Do I pray that Arafat should depart this world, or will his successor create greater dangers? Who will be better for the Jews and Israel, Bush or Gore? If I don't know, what should I daven for? (Not why should I daven!)

In the famous, inspirational story of the little boy (or ignorant man - depends on what version of the story you've heard) recited the Alef-Bet over and over again, and asked G-d to arrange the letters appropriately. Maybe in a way, that is the value of reciting T'hilim, which is sort of like a shotgun approach to prayer, especially when we really don't know the specifics of what to ask for. These words might sound like ramblings, but I hope you get the point. The power of prayer can apply to specific, obvious situations, and also (hopefully) to confusing, vague, ambivalent situations as well.